Month: September 2009

When interviewing the crew today so many told me their favourite mission ever was last year’s ‘World Food Program‘ (WFP), but they felt down because they didn’t get much press about it, so listen up please.

september 9 2009
That’s a mural on the ship’s main weapon housing, also see it in yesterday’s post ‘1st Day on the Ship’.  

In August 2008 they sailed over to the east coast of Africa and escorted the WFP ships through the hostile waters of Somalia to ensure the food got to the people instead of the pirates.  By September 2008 already 60 pirate attacks had occurred, making this area the worst in the world for piracy.

Then, on their own volition, they decided to extend their stay by a month… when the other escort ships were canceling their WFP contracts because they were too scared.  This mission, along with other donations, makes Canada the 3rd largest donor to the WFP worldwide.  Read more about it here.

Okay so sleeping on a ship is like being in a sensory deprivation chamber.

Probably you’re not supposed to say “drove” but I’m not sure of the correct word.  Helmed?

While the crew was not far away, still I was in charge (way more than that time I flew a plane).  It takes immense concentration and it’s terrifying, look at my eyes:

september 8 2009
It’s worth a billion bucks, we were speeding along at 21 knots and if I were to jam the wheel too quickly everyone and everything below would start flying around.  I lasted 8 minutes before I said, “thank you no more”.  

Then I learned about navigation, and that screen there is the ship’s main navigation screen.

A path between points A and B is decided and entered into the computer based on ‘waypoints’ – little spots along the way that when you reach them in real life, a change in course is required.  To consistently hit all the waypoints you must do constant, fast and accurate math in your head which is why one is stationed here for 4 hours at a time max.  

Sea navigation is done in yards, miles and degrees, and when I asked what happens if you’re a few degrees off the reply was “this is the formula drilled into our heads – 1 degree at 1 mile = 33 yards”.  They told me to test people tomorrow to see if they knew the forumula, okay.

I also asked if anyone checks up on the actual course sailed versus the charted one, “oh yes Keri, and if they see a zigzagy line well, that’s just embarrassing”, ha. 

september 8 2009

Look how red I am.  Each night the ship goes to all red lighting, because red lighting preserves your night vision.  

The bridge (the area you drive the ship from) is lowly lit only in red, and someone told me, “if someone comes onto the bridge at night and they don’t trip or walk into something, it’s not dark enough”.

Today:

september 8 2009

7:30am – Board the ship.  When you do you must salute her right before stepping on deck. See my face there on the left?  Taken shortly after I boarded and I’m like, “how in the world did I end up here OMG”

9 – 10am – An extensive tour of the ship.  I inhaled a ridiculous amount of information. There will be no lack of footage and how I’m gonna fit this into my usual 3 minutes will be challanging

10 – 12pm – After the tour I was informed, “off you go, you can explore wherever you like, the ship is yours, have fun” what??? Sick

12 – 12:30pm – Lunch.  There are 3 dining areas on board and depending on your rank* is where you eat.  I enjoyed lunch in the Officers area, where, and this floored me, I sat down at a table, was given a menu and asked what I would like.  The food was amazing, especially the soup.  I’m not sure where the reputation for bad food comes from in the Forces comes from, certainly not here, and I’m picky

12:30 – 5 – More exploring.  Went through 8 locks today, including the Welland Canal, the first time for this ship, and 4 in a row which was the equivilant to climbing the height of Niagara Falls.  You zoom up faster than you think, those things fill up fast

5 – 6pm – Dinner in the biggest dining area with the non-commissioned crew (oh boy I hope I’m getting this terminology correct… if not, please correct me in the comments).  Again, a menu is posted and my omlette was made-to-order come ON.  Delicious

6 – 10pm – Kicking it around the ship, more filming, chatting and a little editing because my camera is full and I’ve got to dump some footage so I can fill it up again tomorrow

10 – 11pm – I drive the ship

11 – 11:30pm – Back to ‘The Cave’, the dining/hang-out area where I ate dinner and where there’s also a bar.  A little editing and then fall on my face asleep in my bunk 

* I’ve posted the rank hierarchy in the comments